Eastern Screech-Owls in Michigan
When eastern screech-owls are present in Michigan, when they nest, which native Michigan plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4a–6b yard.
- Status in Michigan
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- March–May
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4a–6b
- Nest box
- 3 in hole, 8 × 8 in floor, 10–30 ft
When to expect eastern screech-owls in Michigan
Eastern Screech-Owls live in Michigan all year. Lake-effect snow and long cold spells; Purple Finches breed in the north and winter farther south. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward mice and roosting birds.
Humid continental, strongly shaped by the Great Lakes; colder and snowier in the Upper Peninsula.
Nesting in Michigan
Across Michigan, eastern screech-owls typically nest from March–May. Nest site: tree cavity or nest box with wood-chip base. Females lay 2–6 eggs, incubate for 26–34 days, and young leave the nest after about 28 days.
A compressed nesting season; bluebirds usually manage one or two broods.
- Have boxes cleaned and mounted before February — eastern screech-owls begin prospecting ahead of egg-laying.
- Use a 3 in entrance on a 8 × 8 in floor, mounted 10–30 ft.
- Fit a pole baffle or hole guard; ventilation gaps and drainage holes are essential.
- Clean out old nests after each brood and again after May.
Native Michigan plants that attract eastern screech-owls
Of the regional native plants we track for Michigan, these 8 provide food or cover eastern screech-owls use:
Seeds and dense winter shelter.
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Blue-black fall fruit and dense nesting cover.
Feeding eastern screech-owls through the Michigan year
Screech-owls roost in nest boxes by day; a box on a large tree 10–30 ft up is often used year after year.
- Best foods: .
- In Michigan's winter: Lake-effect snow and long cold spells; Purple Finches breed in the north and winter farther south.
Frequently asked
Are eastern screech-owls in Michigan year-round?
Yes. Eastern Screech-Owls are year-round residents in Michigan.
When do eastern screech-owls nest in Michigan?
Nesting in Michigan typically runs March–May, with 1 per season. Clutches are 2–6 eggs, incubated for 26–34 days.
What native plants attract eastern screech-owls in Michigan?
Eastern hemlock, Flowering dogwood, Serviceberry, White oak, Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum are native plants in Michigan that provide food or cover for eastern screech-owls.
What size birdhouse hole do eastern screech-owls need?
3 in, with a floor of 8 × 8 in mounted 10–30 ft.
Eastern Screech-Owls in other regions
Other backyard birds in Michigan
Sources
- Eastern Screech-Owl — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Eastern Screech-Owl life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Eastern Screech-Owl — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Michigan
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.